Avalanche Forecast
South Coast
On the North Shore the new snow has been showing signs of poor bonding to the recent crust surface. Further north in alpine terrain watch for fresh wind slabs on lee-loaded and cross-loaded slopes.
Avalanche Problem 1: Wind Slabs
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Use caution in down wind (lee) areas. Wind loading may create pockets of wind slab.
- Watch for signs of instability such as whumpfing, or cracking.
Avalanche Problem 2: Loose Dry
What Elevation?
Which Slopes?
Chances of Avalanches?
Expected Size?
Storm snow has been showing signs of poor bonding to the most recent crust.
Travel and Terrain Advice
- Be cautious of sluffing in steep terrain, particularly where the debris flows into terrain traps.
Avalanche Summary
On Tuesday a few natural, loose dry avalanches were observed in the recent storm snow. Ski cutting also produced storm slab and loose dry avalanches to Size 1 running far on the December 18th crust. And explosive control work produced storm slab avalanches up to Size 1.5, propagating about 40 m wide with crowns 20-25 cm deep, failing on the December 18th crust.
Snowpack Summary
Since Monday, the region has received 20-30 cm of storm snow on top of the most recent December 18th melt-freeze crust which formed following Sunday's rain event to upper elevations. Below this crusts lies 20 cm of wet snow which appears to be well bonded to the lower December 16th crust. Below this second crust the snowpack is well settled to ground. Snowpack depths are about 125 cm at 1100 m elevation, with many early season hazards present at lower elevations.
Weather Forecast
THURSDAY: Mainly cloudy, flurries. Accumulation 5-10 cm. Ridge wind light to moderate from the west. Temperature -3. Freezing level 500 m.
FRIDAY: Mix of sun and cloud, light flurries. Accumulation trace. Ridge wind light from the north. Temperature -3. Freezing level 500 m.
SATURDAY: Mostly sunny. Ridge wind light from the east. Temperature -6. Freezing level surface.
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Tuesday's storm snow is now being redistributed by wind at upper treeline and alpine elevations and lies on a widespread melt-freeze crust that has been showing poor signs of bonding.